Salford has reinforced the standard that care providers will have to comply with.
The council has previously created a set of principles to help make pay and conditions better for care workers who are employed in the city.
An open letter has now been sent to the chief officers of all care providers who hold an International Recruitment Licence and operate in Salford to make them aware of the standards they have to work to.
The move has been made after some sponsored staff reported facing difficulties with contracts, terms and guaranteed hours salaries.
Sponsored staff are employees from abroad who have been granted a visa to work in the health and social care sector. The scheme was initially brought in to cope with staff shortages in the UK’s healthcare system.
The council has been working closely with Salford City UNISON to ensure that local workers are getting the help they need.
Councillor John Merry, Lead Member for Adult, Health and Social Care at Salford City Council, said: “In Salford we recognise the incredible work our care workers do and want to make sure they have the working conditions they deserve.
“We’ve had examples of care workers who are employed as part of the International Recruitment Scheme approaching us anonymously due to the fear of repercussions from their employer. On top of this some staff have been discouraged from joining trade unions. This goes against all our principals and has a knock on effect to the care they provide.
“I want to be absolutely clear – the care of our local people is an absolute priority.
“As we move forwards we will be looking at providers in the city and where there are concerns check for detailed information on personal conditions for employees. Good quality providers have nothing to fear – but rest assured we will take action against those who are not responsible employers.
“We will be working closely with the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) and UNISON as we work to create a city that is better and fairer for all.”
The standard sees:
- Foundation Living Wage paid to all staff as a minimum
- Staff paid for all training and travel time during a shift
- Staff who are eligible are entitled to statutory sick pay and annual leave in accordance with ACAS guidelines.
In addition, the council also wants providers to facilitate and support access for staff to UNISON, a trade union with whom the council and NHS work to ensure consistency of standards in social care and so that concerns can be identified early, in the interests of staff, providers and those in receipt of services.
And the Salford Employment Hub provides careers, skills and recruitment support to Salford residents and employers. Get online advice and guidance for rights for sponsored migrants.
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